Breaking myths around mental illness

We often use words like depression, mental illness, anxiety, and emotional distress very casually. Many of us assume, “Hum kabhi pagal nahi honge—this will never affect me,” as one of my friends once said.Let me be very clear: mental illness does not mean being “pagal.” This is a deeply rooted myth that needs to be unlearned.A person experiencing mental illness can still understand what is happening around them, make decisions, and communicate normally. What changes is how they feel about themselves and their life. Feelings of sadness, emptiness, guilt, shame, worthlessness, or feeling unloved begin to dominate. The mind repeatedly revisits past traumatic or painful experiences. There is an ongoing internal conflict—constant arguments in one’s own thoughts.In today’s stressful and unpredictable world, awareness of mental health is not optional; it is essential. We must read, listen, and educate ourselves so that if such a phase ever arrives in our lives, we are better prepared to face it. As Deepika Padukone once shared, “One day I woke up with this very uncomfortable feeling…”—mental health issues can surface suddenly and without warning.That is why it is important to know the symptoms and the ways to seek help. Unlike physical illnesses such as fever, mental health struggles are often invisible to family, friends, and even close companions. They cannot always be sensed from the outside.No matter how strong or resilient you feel today, a single unpredictable and uncontrollable life event can push anyone into prolonged sadness. Just as we keep medicines ready to prevent a fever from worsening, we must take care of our mental health at the earliest stage—before the situation slips out of control.It is common to see people in their 40s dismiss or even mock conversations around mental health, often because they grew up within restricted social structures and limited exposure. What is more disheartening is witnessing the same attitude among people of our own generation.If you are reading this and thinking, “This will never happen to me,” I sincerely hope it doesn’t. But life is unpredictable—you never invite a headache, yet it happens. If mental distress does arrive and remains unacknowledged, it can escalate into severe depression, making recovery a long and difficult journey. Early recognition and acceptance are key to returning to a stable and fulfilling life.If this resonates with you, I encourage you to explore the Live Love Laugh Foundation website. I recently came across this initiative and found it deeply informative. Their blog section offers valuable insights, and their lecture series (under Ongoing Initiatives → Lectures) provides helpful discussions on mental health awareness.